From the air, Kaneohe Bay -- with its deep blue channels divided by the lighter greens of shallow reefs -- looks like an undulating glass sculpture. Some of the shoreline belongs to the U.S. Marine Corps, while the rest is devoted to private marinas, beaches and Kualoa Regional Park. Snorkeling in Kaneohe Bay is perhaps not as good as some spots on Oahu, but the locals know where to find the best reefs.

Kaneohe Sandbar -– Ahu O Laka

Considered a prime snorkeling spot by the locals, the Kaneohe Sandbar is also a favored picnic spot. The sandbar is about a 15-minute ride from Heeia Boat Harbor and reachable by power boat, sailboat or kayak. Measuring roughly a mile wide by 3 miles long, the sandbar appears twice a day at low tide. Visitors climb off the boats, set up chairs and umbrellas, unpack picnic lunches and start working on that tan. When the tide comes in, some beach-goers head for their boat, while others hang around to do a bit of snorkeling. The shallow waters that pour over the sandbar are home to flounders that burrow themselves into the sand and are hard to spot. Experienced snorkelers head beyond the edges of the sandbar to swim in deeper water. The drop-off is quite deep and a bit of a surprise. The reef is healthy and home to a number of tropical fish, including baby hammerhead sharks.

Chinaman’s Hat –- Mokolii

On the northern end of Kaneohe Bay, you will find a cone-shaped island named Mokolii, nicknamed “Chinaman’s Hat” because of its shape. It looks like the traditional straw hat worn by Chinese peasants who were often part of Old Hawaii's immigrant workforce. Only 1,477 feet from shore, you can walk the distance if you time the tides right; if you don't, rent a kayak, boat or a surfboard and paddle over. If you’re not a strong swimmer, paddling is best just in case your timing is off. A reef surrounding Mokolii is filled with trigger fish, parrot fish, tangs and of course, the hammerheads. While on the island, hike to the top of the cone and take in the view of Oahu’s eastern coast and Kaneohe Bay. The climb is fairly difficult, with no defined trail, but takes most visitors in fair physical condition about 20 minutes.

Kualoa Regional Park –- Sugar Mill Beach

Kualoa Regional Park is on the northern end of Kaneohe Bay, about 9 miles from the town of Kaneohe. On land that once was sacred to the ancient Hawaiians, the park is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Sugar Mill Beach is adjacent to the park and at high tide offers decent snorkeling in the area beyond the sandy shallows. Octopi are fond of this area, but the hammerhead sharks prefer the waters closer to the sandbar and Mokolii. The name comes from the sugar mill that once operated in the area. Kualoa Regional Park, under management of the City and County of Honolulu, offers camping from Friday night until Wednesday morning. Permits are available online at Camping Honolulu or by visiting the city offices at the Frank Fasi Municipal Building in Honolulu.

About the Hammerhead Sharks

Kaneohe Bay is a nursery for the scalloped hammerhead shark, or Sphyma lewini. The pups, or baby sharks, are born live, and then mom heads out to sea. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology regularly tags these animals, and they take some back to their research facility at Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay, where they give them a home in an artificial reef. Chances are if you are out snorkeling you will see some of these oddly shaped shark babies glide by. The pups stay in the shallow waters until they are big enough to head out to the open ocean. Hammerhead sharks are more active at night, preferring to swim in schools near the bay’s sandy bottom during the day. Naturally skittish, hammerheads are not believed to be a threat to humans. It is rather otherworldly to see schools of these finned animals with eyes on the edge of their “hammer” heads swimming past you, all the while looking you over.

About the Author

Monica Wachman is a former editor and writer for FishersTravelSOS, EasyRez.com and Bonsai Ireland. She has an AA degree in travel from Career Com Technical and is an avid RV buff and gardener. In 2014, she published "Mouschie and the Big White Box" about an RV trip across North America.